Dursley teenager rapped for second time over illegal pepper spray

FAILURE to comply with a supervision order imposed last September for having an illegal pepper spray at his home has resulted in a Dursley teenager being sentenced all over again today.

Gloucester Crown Court heard almost a year ago that a CS gas spray was discharged and when police went to Michael Hensley home on School Road the pepper spray container was found.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon on April 17, 2013 at Rosebery Mount, Dursley.

He was given a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered to attend a special activity programme for up to 30 days.

But today he was back before the court admitting he had failed to attend two supervision sessions without reasonable excuse.

He said it had been difficult because of commitments including becoming a dad.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC revoked the previous order and sentenced Hensley afresh - giving him a new 12 months community order with a condition to attend the thinking skills programme.

When the case was first heard last year David Scutt, prosecuting, said "This man and another attended an address in Dursley where there was some violence. The police were called.

"They noticed that what appeared to be a CS gas canister had been discharged. They later went to School Road where the defendant and another man were arrested.

“The defendant said 'the can is in there.' The police recovered a can of Dragon pepper spray. He said he had found it a few weeks earlier and taken it back home to his address and had not got rid of it or handed it in."

Dermot Clarke, defending, said "He had never used it and when the police arrived he pointed it out. This offence is borne out of inmaturity and stupidity rather than anything else.